Whitstable? Would you recommend as a family holiday in May?

[Gingerbics]

Just wondered if anyone can recommend. We'll have 2 yr old and 5 yr old. I understand the beach is pebbly there but wondered what the other local beaches were like. Also whether there would be places to visit local-ish if the weather was rubbish.
Would really appreciate hearing your thoughts and recommendations as need to decide this weekend whether to book there or not. Thank you

Whitstable is lovely, but yes very pebbly beaches, not the sort of beach you can lie out on! It's not far from Margate or Broadstairs which are both sandy beaches, Broadstairs in particular is lovely.

Not sure about stuff to do if it rains, have only been there for day trips when it's been sunny. But I can recommend Blean Woods nearby for nice walks, routes are marked and some are suitable for buggies. Fallen down trees to climb on etc. so great for kids.

Hope this helps.

Hmmm. I don't think I'd recommend Whitstable for littles. There are lots of lively little shops and restaurants and so on- which would be of absolutely no interest to them, and very narrow pavements which makes pushing a buggy a bit of a pain. And the beaches are very pebbly- and the water does get deep quite quickly when the tide's in. Have you looked at Broadstairs- or Margate (honestly!)? Folkestone has good shops, a variety of beaches and a fantastic adventure play park thing near the sea.

Thanks so much both of you for your wise words! Think we will now investigate Broadstairs instead as looks like a great beach and a bit more going on. Don't suppose anyone can recommend a house/cottage there for 4 of us in May?
Many thanks again

the Folkestone play park is fab for age 5+
there are a few zoos etc - Wingham, Aspinalls, Wild Wood and some steam trains eg Romney Hythe and Dymchurch
Margate, Ramsgate and Broadstairs have lo amusement rides on beach too
Broadstairs has great retro ice-cream parlour
not huge amount if raining though

Margate is on some global list this year of the top 10 places to visit ! Broadstairs is nice and if the weather is crap Dover Castle is a fab day out and not too bad in the rain . Also if you bring passports you could always pop over to Nauticus at bolougne for the day . Minnis Bay is quite a nice quiet beach and has a great crab pool where you are guaranteed a catch .

Thanks so much some great ideas, I'm no frantically trying to find somewhere half decent before they're all booked up. Expensive it seems, around 700 a week. I'm really wary as had an incredibly disappointing cottage in woolacombe last summer so don't want to make same mistake again.
Thanks again

Hi Ginger not sure if you've found somewhere or not but if you're still looking then I highly recommend this. We went last summer and it was great. Your cost includes unlimited entry to Port Lympne and Howletts (sister zoo 20 mins up the road). You also get private tours early evening. We went with our 2 year old last July and had a wonderful time. It's a great base to explore the area, including the fabulous playpark that Julia mentioned. They only opened last year so it's all very new and the staff are keen. Food was good too.